Sitting on a stool, at a distance of a reindeer from Santa Claus, Paulina Guilarte Cardona stretches her arms as far as possible so that her interlocutor understands what she wants to receive for Christmas: a big box full of surprises. Santa Claus from Carrefour Laval listens attentively, nodding his head.
After a forced break last year, in the middle of the second wave of COVID-19, the month of November 2021 marks the return of Santa Claus in flesh and blood in many commercial buildings in Greater Montreal. At the Department of Health and Social Services, it is explained that there is no specific directive for Santa Claus: these are the rules of the Committee on Standards, Equity, Health and Safety of the work (CNESST) that apply.
“As Santas are workers, they must follow the CNESST measures rigorously, because they are exposed to an unvaccinated population where the virus circulates a lot”, indicates the spokesperson Marjorie Larouche. These rules state that they must be 2 meters from other people, otherwise they must be behind a plexiglass or wear a quality medical mask.
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PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Paulina would like to receive a box of surprises.
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PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
A distance of two meters is maintained.
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PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Paulina poses with her brother Matthew.
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In the three Cadillac Fairview centers (Promenades Saint-Bruno, Fairview Pointe-Claire and Carrefour Laval), the distance is maintained, Santa Claus and his assistants wear a mask, and visits are by reservation only. The three centers were already full for the season on Monday.
Seven-year-old Paulina was visibly happy to have had her date with Santa Claus to explain in person some changes to her gift list. “I changed my mind in the car,” explains the little girl, who initially also wanted LEGOs and an MP3 player. I decided to ask for only one gift, so that Santa Claus had enough material to give gifts to all the children. “” Last year, we could not do anything at Christmas, underlines his father, Luis Guilarte. Meeting Santa Claus is part of the magic of Christmas. ”
Santa Claus, Edgar Emery, confides that he feels a pang every time he sees a family turn back for lack of a date. But he understands, he says. “They want to avoid queues and gatherings,” says Mr. Emery, who has played Santa Claus for 40 years.
Variable festivities
At Complexe Desjardins, the “real” Santa Claus will also be back on December 4, by reservation only. The organization presented a protocol to Public Health to ensure its plan was compliant. Also on the program: the little train, the outdoor Christmas market and traveling events without pre-established schedules.
“We have made our trademark with the real Santa Claus since the beginnings of the complex, in 1976, underlines the communications advisor, France Moreau. For us, this is important. “In addition to making the children happy, Santa Claus brings good traffic, she confirms:” Excluding the pandemic, we receive around 50,000 people. ”
Last year, Place Versailles was one of the few shopping centers to maintain the presence of Santa Claus within its walls.
The formula, entitled “Contactless Father Christmas Kingdom”, is back this year: Santa Claus is seated in a box, protected by a plexiglass. A security guard ensures that the distance of 1 meter is maintained between customers, says manager, Elizabeth Payne.
At Place Montréal Trust and Galeries d’Anjou, it’s more of an immersive 3D experience that is offered to families, by reservation only.
At Cominar, Christmas festivities vary from one shopping center to another. In the Quebec City region and in Bas-Saint-Laurent, there will be face-to-face Santas, but “in Montreal, the majority of our centers will not have Santa Claus,” says Ann Picard, strategic marketing director. The Galeries Rive-Nord, in Repentigny, and the Mail Montenach, in Beloeil, will welcome a virtual Santa Claus. At the Rockland Center, Mail Champlain, Brossard, and Place Longueuil, we opted for exhibitions highlighting the products of retailers, “who suffered greatly during the pandemic,” calls Ann Picard.
Due to the gatherings it would provoke, the traditional holiday parade will not take place this year in Montreal. Santa Claus will be crisscrossing the city center all the same every weekend until Christmas, without his location being disclosed.